Hawaiian language playwrights wanted by Leeward Theatre

The Leeward Community College Theatre is sponsoring a Hawaiian Language Playwriting contest to promote access to ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi theatre. The winning entry will be produced on stage at the Kīkaha Ka Manu Play Festival in January 2015.

Stemming from a traditional culture and adapting to a multicultural world, Kīkaha Ka Manu is a call to audiences and artists to celebrate and share stories that define and challenge the essence and perceptions of residents and indigenous peoples of Hawaiʻi.

By promoting the use of Hawaiian language, Kīkaha Ka Manu hopes to inspire and encourage the next generation to explore what it means to be Hawaiian, and provide a way for non-Hawaiians to engage with the Hawaiian community through the medium of theatre.

Kīkaha Ka Manu is translated as “The Soaring Bird,” describing how the playwrights are encouraged to soar with their creativity.

Contest rules

Plays may be on any subject and written in any style. Works featuring contemporary characters and situations are encouraged. Plays must not exceed 30 minutes—shorter works are preferred. Time will be strictly enforced.

Plays will be judged based on style, content, concept, and use of Hawaiian language. Both the playwrights’ use of Hawaiian and overall “theatricality” will be judged.

Playwrights must be 18 years old or older at time of submission. Multiple entries may be submitted by an author.